REVENGE OF THE BETRAYED WOLF

Isis, after handing over the preparations for the wounded to the she-wolf healers, headed for the orcs, ordering them to return to the shelter once the situation was under control, then with quickened steps she headed for the pack's exit, her heart racing and she feared Bastian had recognized her. She tried to calm her mind with rapid steps, but a faint voice stopped her.

"Why are you running away from the herd? Are you afraid of your companion?" asked Apollo, who had followed her, sensing her concern in his eyes.

She turned to look at him anxiously.

"I may look cowardly leaving like this, but I can't let Bastian recognize and reject me because of my dark wizard past."

"Girlfriend, you shouldn't torture yourself. If you have feelings for him, tell him who you really are." Apollo comforts Isis and, with a look full of love, continues, "An extraordinary being who emits light and helps those in need. This is your true essence, pure, good energy."

"No, I can't reveal to him that I'm the woman who visits him on dark nights. If he finds out I carry the blood of the witches of black magic, he'll reject me and I'll meet the same fate as my mother." Isis replied fearfully. My mother was a good woman, devoted to her home and the cultivation of flowers, while my father was a hunter. But when my father's pack discovered their origin, they were killed and my brother, filled with resentment, invoked the magic of our lineage and....". With a cracked voice and sadness, she continued, "I killed him, my hands stained with the blood of my own genes."

Seeing Isis trembling, Apollo approached her and wrapped her in a comforting embrace while whispering in a warm voice.

"You have friends who won't let anything bad happen to you. What's more, you've inherited your mother's generosity, that innate desire to help anyone. You've already shown that. I understand your fear, but the truth is you're a gift from the goddess Selene. If Bastian truly loves you, he'll understand and accept your lineage's past. Don't let fear rob you of the chance to be happy."

Isis felt loved by her friend's words. Although she longed to share her origins with Bastian, the fear of rejection haunted her. It crossed her mind, "I'd rather have his warmth and kindness on these dark nights, even if only for a short while, than face his scorn. She detached herself from her friend and, after taking a deep breath, gave Apollo a tender look and said: "I'd rather have his warmth and kindness on these dark nights, even if only for a short while.

"Go back with the others, accompany Siena to the southern region. They must purge these lands of the wolves allied to Pyrrhus." With a forced smile, Isis turned her back on her friend and walked away.

Apollo understood perfectly well how Isis felt; he too felt uncomfortable watching Lucie converse with other wolves. He dreaded the moment when she would discover that the wolf who had bumped into her in the pack's stores and initiated the conversation was her mate. After watching his friend walk away, Apollo returned to the pack to offer his help.

Crono urged his uninjured wolves to search the pack for Palas. With dawn on the horizon, the pack commander appeared before him.

"My lord, we've searched the manor, the pack and the borders of our lands, but we've found no trace of the wolf Palas," the man continued in a firm voice, "It looks like the earth itself has swallowed her up.

Crono clenched his hands and squinted. With a cold expression, he declared.

"Prepare the warriors who are still standing. We'll head for the southern lands, conquering them before another wolf catches up. We will unite the territories of the wolves."

"Yes, sir, as you command, we will prepare for departure," the warrior replied before retreating.

"Alpha Crono, you know me. I'm Siena, your wife's friend. May I speak with you?"

"Of course we can talk, but I'm in a hurry; I'm about to leave for the southern lands, maybe it'll be when I get back."

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. As you've heard, I'm one of Ginco's daughters, and I want to go with you. When you killed my father..." she paused to observe the shocked expression on Crono's face, "Yes, I know you killed him, but I don't blame you. It was part of a plot also directed against my father by his mistress Claudia and her daughter Pallas."

"Crono couldn't believe his ears, he now understood Pyrrhus' words.

"Palas is my half-sister. I can only tell you what I know, because I heard it directly from Claudia." She heaved a deep sigh before continuing, "Palas planned for you to finish off Agamemnon and reject your consort. Then Pyrrhus would deal with Freya, since my friend was the obsession of this cruel wolf, while Claudia took it upon herself to tell my father that you were torturing and holding his daughter Palas hostage in this pack. That's why he acted by attacking your pack". Crono now understood why Palas had disappeared, and his mind was in chaos, thinking: "Pyrrhus was right, how could I have let myself be deceived by this she-wolf? I've tormented myself all these years thinking she was acting out of love and my past promises, but everything about her was a vile lie, even her name. Crono's expression turned darker.

"I'm going to catch you, Palas, and you're going to pay for separating me from my family."

"Claudia, Eris and Palas must be in Kelpy territory. I ask you to allow me to accompany you; my family is still in the mansion that once belonged to Pyrrhus. I managed to escape with the help of my mother, who was a servant of Pyrrhus and Claudia. In the marketplace, merchants took pity on my mother's pleas to take me with them and, with Apollo's help, I managed to cross over to this land. My little sister Greta was only nine at the time; she was just a child and stayed with my mother through this ordeal."

"If you can come with us, Siena. Come with us, I'm going to need reliable people who know these lands."

"Thank you, alpha Crono. I'll get ready to leave," with a smile, he turned his back and walked out.